Religious Dimensions of Child and Family Life : Reflections on the un Convention on the Rights of the Child

When the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) was unanimously approved by the UN General Assembly on November 20, 1989, it was widely heralded as a landmark in children's advocacy, and provided a useful framework for developing programs and advocating for children's well-being. However, many children's programs are still designed with little thought to religious or cultural diversity, even though the importance of culture was highlighted at the convention. Religious Dimensions of Child and Family Life examines the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child from the perspectives of eight of the world's most-practised religions--Islam, Christianity, Hinduism, Buddhism, North American Native spiritual belief, Judaism, popular Chinese religious practice and Bahá'í. The authors of each article pay special attention to religious moral codes of conduct governing parental behaviour, child-rearing norms and the role of children in spiritual practice. They pinpoint where positive support is provided, but also where the religions criticize or disagree with the ideas of the Convention. When considered in relation to the UN Convention, these ideas provoke a lively discussion. "This volume seeks to examine child and family life from the perspective of various religious traditions in relation to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. Special attention is paid to the religions' moral codes of conduct governing parental behaviour, child rearing norms, and the role of children in spiritual practice. Eight of the world's most practised religions are discussed : Islam, Christianity, Judaism, Buddhism, Bahai religion, Chinese popular practice, Hinduism, and North American Native spiritual belief. The purpose is to see where the religions positively support the UNCRC and where they criticize or disagree with the ideas of the Convention. Each religion has very clear notions as to the functioning of the child in the context of the family. When considered in relation to the UN Convention, these ideas provoke a lively discussion."--Résumé de l'éditeur "This volume seeks to examine child and family life from the perspective of various religious traditions in relation to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. Special attention is paid to the religions' moral codes of conduct governing parental behaviour, child rearing norms, and the role of children in spiritual practice. Eight of the world's most practised religions are discussed: Islam, Christianity, Judaism, Buddhism, Bahai religion, Chinese popular practice, Hinduism, and North American Native spiritual belief. The purpose is to see where the religions positively support the UNCRC and where they criticize or disagree with the ideas of the Convention. Each religion has very clear notions as to the functioning of the child in the context of the family. When considered in relation to the UN Convention, these ideas provoke a lively discussion."--Jacket